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Our Catlzolic Heritage in T ezas
be on the south bank of the river, a short distance from the ford of La Santa Cruz, while the presidio was to be located to the north on the opposite side of the stream, some two or three miles distant. Work was immediately begun with great zeal. Quarters were built for the mis- sionaries, a temporary church was constructed, and a typical mission pueblo was erected with a strong stockade around it for protection. Admission was through a large gate closed by bars. At the same time that the padres worked on the mission, Colonel Parrilla carefully looked after the construction of the necessary barracks for the soldiers. The new presidio was called San Luis de las Amarillas in honor of the viceroy, but it is better known as Presidio de San Saba. By May 4, 1757, the work had progressed sufficiently for the commander to send instructions to the detachment left on the San Marcos to bring up the rest of the supplies. These arrived in San Saba in the latter part of June. 91 Tlie A,paches ,prove a disa,p,pointment. Everything was now in readiness but not an Indian had come. Early in May, Father Fray Benito Varela, formerly of San Antonio, who knew the language of these Indians, was sent in search of them. Hopefully he set out directly for the San Marcos, confident he would find the Apaches hunting buffalo. Not a soul did he meet along the Colorado. When he arrived on the San Marcos, the soldiers who were still in camp informed him that a few days before, an Apache squaw had told them that her tribe had been attacked by a group of Tejas Indians on the Colorado and forced to flee. About this time El Chico, a Lipan chief, visited San Antonio, where Fray Mariano rebuked him for not keeping his promise and ordered him to go to San Saba at once. The chief's only reply was that he was on his way. By the middle of June the hopes of the missionaries were suddenly raised. Three thousand Apaches had unexpectedly camped near the new mission which was awaiting them. Joyously the padres went out to greet them and to offer them presents. The Indians received them sullenly, as if resenting the appearance of the missionaries in their midst. When the enthusiastic friars invited them to enter the mission, they were frankly told the Indians had not come for that purpose, that they were on a buffalo hunt and were pre- paring for a campaign against the northern tribes. When asked if they did not want to become Christians, they replied that they did and that they were the friends of the Spaniards, but that they had no time just
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91/bid., 39 6_ 397 ; Arricivita, Cronica, 36~-369. Copies of the official proceedings are found io San Fra,rcisco el Grande Arcluve, Vol. 23, pp. 83-101.
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